THE GAY ADVENTURERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 17

THE GAY ADVENTURERS

By CAPTAIN E. C. COX Aulhor of " Achievements of Carruther»,"* etc.

(COPYRIGHT)

CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued) "I should think it would!'' laughed Sally as she read the paragraph, "it'd sell like wildfire. A few people would open their eyes pretty wide, laddie." "Make 'em sit up and take notice, just a few! 1 tell you what, old dear, we'll give 'em a treat to go on with We'll dine at the Majestic to-night. I'll 'phone for a table to be reserved for us, and we'll bid Charlie Gilmore to the banquet." The return of the Earl and Countess of Wavenden was the talk of the day; the one topic of conversation. The guests at the Majestic soon learnt that a table had been reserved for them, and expectation was at its height. A subdued murmur of applause iloatcd round the room as Bingo and Sally, with Gilmoie, entered in immaculate evening dress, Sally attired in a gown of grey chiffon of the most fashionable cut, with a diamond spray in her hair.

"Who do you say that beautiful woman is?" asked Lord Bepton of his companion at a table some distance off.

"That's the Countess of Wavenden, whom everyone is talking about, with the Earl and another man. Didn't you guess?" "I'm awfully puzzled. I thought for a moment that it was someone else who I'd met before. It must have been a trick of the imagination." But bis memory wandered off to a fascinating girl who had displayed a wonderful knowledgo of Roman archaeology, and had expressed profound admiration for his book. And he was remarkably silent for a considerable time.

Bingo and Sally and Gilmore were a merry party. Sally was in the highest spirits. "What price dak-bungalows?" sho asked as she looked around the spacious, brilliantly illuminated room and the fashionable crowd of dancers, while a string band played seductive dance music. "D'you know, I rather liked that funny brown custard pudding, though you two fastidious boys scorned it. What ages ago it seems' We'd all earned our dinner that day, hadn't we.

"C'rikey," said Gilmore. "I should just about think we had! That was a priceless scrap. I wish 1 had brought away my lathi for keeps. It'd look well over my mantelpiece. It would have been useful that evening at Monty, but one couldn't very well walk about with it there, at least not without exciting remark." "It might come in handy some other day," said Bingo. "You never know." "By George, it jolly well might. Good old Joseph Pickering might take it into his head to pay rue a nocturnal visit. A lathi would be a new experience to him. Wonder what he'd think of it!"

"I wonder," said the Earl of Wavenden. It was a beautiful spring when the Earl and Countess of Wavenden arrived at the stately Tudor mansion of Wavenden Hall. The whole countryside had come out to give them a welcome home. The streets were gay with flags and bunting, and a brass band struck np "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," as they passed through the market place of the historical old town. Bingo and Sally bowed and smiled as the throng shouted and waved their handkerchiefs. "It's like Kandiara," said Sally to Bingo, "except that there are no elephants and camels." Half a dozen stalwart youths insisted on pulling the car from the market place to the Hall, and a closely-packed crowd followed all the way. "Speech! Speech!*' they cried as Bingo and Sally stood on the steps that fronted the entrance.

"Friends and neighbours," said Bingo, "the Countess and I are greatlv touched by your enthusiastic welcome. 1 cannot say how deeply we appreciate your kind feelings. I will not make a long speech. I will only say this: I have travelled in many countries, and the conclusion that I have come to is that England is the finest country in the world, that Northumberland is the finest county in England, ami for tis the most delightful part of Northumberland is Wavenden. And wo intend to show it bv living our lives here, and we propose as soon as we are settled in to invito all our tenantry and their friends to a dinner and dance." And Bingo and Sally had to stand for a long time on the steps bowing ami smiling, until at last the joyous crowd could no longer find voice to go on singing "For they arc jolly good fellows," and gradually melted away. "This has been a wonderful day, laddie, and I feel so happ.v," said Sally that evening. "Are you sorry that we shall have no more adventures?" "I wouldn't be too sure about that, old dear," he replied as ho kissed her. And we shall see before we say goodbye to Bingo and Sally that there was one more adventure in store for them.

CHAPTER XIII All tlio jovs of country lifo foil to tlio lot of Bingo and Sally. Everything went smoothly prosperously. Tho whole countryside seemed determined to make a rush upon them. There were endless calls to bo returned, an unceasing flow of invitations to dine and sleep the night, luncheons, bridge parties, and as tho summer came on tennis parties, in rapid succession. They became immensely popular. The mystery which enfolded so many years of their past life added to their charm, and was woven into an elusive romance. But Dingo and Sallv found something more in lTi'e than an unceasing round of hospitality and 1 esti vities. It was an unending joy to them to ride or walls about tii" estate, make the acquaintance of their tenants, find out their needs, and gradually introduce improvements in agriculture and stockbreeding. So with the mingling of tho serious and the frivolous Bingo and Sally found the time pass pleasantly enough. One beautiful summer evening they had motored about twenty miles to dino and sleep at the house of some people named Grantham whose acquaintance thev had lately made. Iho Gnintlinms wero an old country family which for generations had been tho centre of life at Langley Regis. Thev had been soldiers, sailors and explorers nil over tho world. The present representatives wore n youngish, lighthearted, breezy couple, whoso ideas appealed strongly to Bingo and Sallv. " Thoroughly good sorts, and quite all there," was Rally's verdict. " Lots of go in them. I'm sure we shall get. on with them all right," Bingo quite agreed. " Yes. old thing," he said. " I cottoned to them as soon as I saw them." ' " Hoorav, here we are. Lady Wavonden," exclaimed their gonial host as they alighted from their car. " Now the season's begun! .lollv glad to see vou, Lord Wavenden. Just an iced Martini before wo get into boiled rags and dinner jackets. We've got a few old pals to meet you. No stiff 'una. Come along. Ah, here's the Missus." The " Missus " was a bright eyed little brunette, full of sparkle and mer-

A ROLLICKING STORY OF A PAIR OF LOVABLE SCAPEGRACES

rinicnt. "It's awfully good of you to come at such short notice," she greeted them. " Wo should have been so disappointed if vou had failed us. Lord and Ladv Aldington are paying us a. Hying visit, atul we want you to meet tiieni over so much. They are old family friends, you know, and she says she remembers \ou in India, Lord Wavenden. She was quite mysterious on the subject, and she wouldn't let anyone into the secret till you came! What can you have been doing? We are frightfully intrigued. You'll take her in to dinner, and then perhaps our curiosity mav be satisfied."

Sally turned to Bingo. "I hope there won't be any startling revelations," sho said, and pretended to look terriblv alarmed.

It was a very successful party. There were the host and hostess. Bingo and Sally, Lord and Lady Aldington, a neighbouring Squire and his wife, and two stray men. Bingo was introduced to Ladv Aldington, a tall, rather plump woman of the Juno type, good-hum-oured, with plenty to say for herself. " I don't believe you have the faintest recollection of meeting me before. Lord Wavenden," she said. " It's frightfully ungallant of you. 1 haven't forgotten you. Now I'll leave you to puzzle it out, and if you can't get at it unaided 1 must try to jog your memory at dinner. Won't they all enjoy it." Bingo raekad his brains, but ho could not recall any meeting with the lady. He was infinitely perplexed and annoyed with himself. No wonder she had lightly reproved him for want of gallantry. He felt absurdly guilty. " I'm Jiorr i 1)1 v ashamed, Lady Aldington," lie said. " Fancy anyone who had met you failing to remember you! What a boor you must think me! Can you give me a little clue, something to go on?" " That's better," she laughed. " I'm glad you arc honest. Confession is good for tiie soul. Now I'll give you a lead. Do you remember a Christmas camp near Ahniadpur? Does that help you?" Billon felt relieved. It was nothing to do with his last visit to India. There couldn't be any serious complications. "That was a long time ago," he said, " and there was no one like you there. There was lots of fun with shooting and pig-sticking." " Now you're being ungallant again! It isn't kind of you to remind me of the passing years! And. you remember the shooting and pig-sticking, but not poor me. This is dreadfully uncomplimentary. The Mr. Hilton of those days was much more polite, and much more than polite. So brave and helpful." A gleam of enlightenment flashed through Bingo's brain. " You don't mean —?" he began. " All, you're getting at it! Yes, I do mean." (To bo continued daily)